ATLANTA (Michigan News Source) – Down nine with just under 13 minutes to play, Michigan State fought their way to a victory coming from behind and holding off Ole Miss, 73-70. In two minutes in the middle of the second half, MSU went on an 8-0 run as Jase Richardson had four of the eight points. That run ignited the Spartans as they eventually took the lead for good, 65-63, with 1:27 to go en route to their 30th win of the year. It is the sixth time in Tom Izzo’s career to have 30+ wins, with the last in 2018-19

Jase Richardson led MSU with 20 points, making four three-pointers and six rebounds. Coen Carr started his first career game, finishing with 15 points, while Jaden Akins added 13 and Tre Holloman 10.

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A strong second half, shooting 56 percent and outscoring Ole Miss, 42-37, led to the comeback win. Ole Miss was up nine, 48-39, with 12:15 left to play when MSU didn’t allow a for over three minutes as they pulled to within one, 48-47. Carson Cooper made two free throws at 7:50 for the lead, 51-50, as Frankie Fidler gave the Spartans a three-point lead, 53-50, at 7:07. In the next six minutes, there were eight lead changes as both teams had a one-point lead.

With the game tied at 63, Akins nailed a jumper at 1:27 for the two-point advantage. Ole Miss then missed two shots in 35 seconds as Richardson took in the defensive rebound with 58 seconds left and called a timeout. Cooper came out of the timeout and put MSU up by four, 67-63, on a layup with 40 seconds to go.

Ole Miss cut the lead to two with 33 seconds left, but Akins made both free throws, pushing the lead back to four, 69-65, at 26 seconds. Ole Miss had a tip-in with 13 seconds to play, but MSU made both free throws from Holloman for a 71-67 advantage. Holloman added two more free throws, making it 73-67, as four seconds read on the clock. Ole Miss hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to come within three.

MSU was 19-of-22 from the line, including 6-of-6 in the final 26 seconds and 13-of-14 in the second half.